WOYWW #521

First off, I apologize for signing Stacy's # to my visits last week. I posted my link, hit refresh and I was #35.  Imagine my surprise after signing several posts yesterday when I realized I'd been bumped to #33 and Stacy was #35 LOL. Maybe I'll just skip adding a number. Y'all know where to find me. LOL

Well last week was a whirlwind of festivities here at WOYWW as we celebrated a blog hop that has gone on continuously for 10 years! The girls across the pond will gather on Saturday for a Crop & Chat.. though I think there will be more chatting (and eating) than cropping. Just as it should be.

My desk is a flurry of activity this morning as I put the May Mystery Mayhem Journal together. The journal needs to be done by the 31st and I go after the girls on the 31st. LOL Not only finish the journal but get the flip - through video recorded as well as the final installment of the Everything Is Rosy Suite Sweet Journal project for SU.

Just to the far left, you'll see the corner of a stamp set I discovered while reorganizing last week. It's a retired set from Stampin' Up! called Expressive Flexible Phrases - a 56 word stamp set. the words are about 1/4" wide and 1" long.

Everything else is part of the current journal challenge. Hadn't opened the laptop yet as we had light storms roll through early this morning. Skies are clear now, sun is shining and I have work to do.

ATCs are ready for the mail. Posting them on Friday so if you've not sent me your address, please do so to KellyH (at) artlover (dot) com.

Not sure how many desks I'll get to this week as prepping for the girls is a whirlwind of activity. They arrive on Sunday.

That's it for my desk this week. Who's Miss Julia and why am I here?  When you are done visiting me in the Ozarks, please hop on over to Stamping Ground  for all the details. Miss Julia has a long list of other studios you can peek into. No standing on an up-turned milk pail to look in the window. We open the doors wide and welcome you.  Please leave your number and you'll be among the first on my list. 

Creative Blessings!

~Kelly

MIXED MEDIA MONDAY Meets Paper Pumpkin

IMPORTANT NOTE!

I will try to keep the blog up from this point on but no promises. I'm trying to finish up house stuff before the grandgirls arrive. From there, I may not do much the first week. We will see. Just know that I am here and my brain is creating but I have a standing rule - FAMILY FIRST. Nothing else is important. 

I say that as we prepare for the new catalog launch next week! So I will do my best.

Now.. on with today's project!

I've been playing in junk journals for several months. That's what inspired the Suite Sweet journals we've been doing here.

Last week, as I cleared off the remnants of the Paper Pumpkin, I was inspired to use some of the elements in the current May Mystery Mayhem Junk Journal Challenge I've been playing in. For full details, check out  my creative blog post HERE. 

I pulled the following Media Sticks (also in that linked post)  and went to work:

Here's a group shot of the elements I made:

Quick explanation of individuals:

'Belly Band' and also my 'Collage' elementI also incorporated the paper flowers

Once placed across the page, I actually have 2 places to tuck tags:

Behind the main kraft belly and behind the leaf patterned DSP

The back of the 'flat paperclip'

The front of the paper clip has the 'metal' bird

Homemade Washi Tape using double-backed adhesive and a strip of the DSP

One of the tags behind the DSP with 'paper flowers'

'Top Tuck' and 'Paper Ruffle'

The flap on the envelope glues to the top of the page, then the envelope flips up from the 

'top tuck' to reveal a second tuck spot with a tag.

Sometimes we need to think outside the box and realize our kits and the leftover elements can be used in so many other creative ways. as fellow dem, Carol Tinson says - 'Just have a play!' You'll find her on YouTube as Sew Carol.

MIXED MEDIA MONDAY - #MMMJJC - Mini #2

Good morning, friends.

As you read this, I'm busy making final passes through the house in prep for the grandgirls arrival. I have so many creative things planned for us. They love to create so they got the right grandma!

So today, I'm showing you Mini Challenge #2 in the May Mystery Mayhem Junk Journal Challenge. I've finally started on the actual journal and look forward to showing that off in a couple of weeks.

For now, here were the parameters for the challenge:

Fussy Cut Image
Handmade Washi
Messy Thread
Receipt or Ticket
Paper Flower

I used a time card for my base that I inked up with Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip (retired but still one of my favorite colors!) The papers are ones I had on the desk where I've been working on the ABC journal, including the fussy cut flower. While that could apply as my 'paper flower', I've aded a layered flower from my stash to the ticket. My handmade washi is the word strip on the left hand side.

Making your own Washi Tape is super simple but the absolute easiest way is to just cut a strip of paper the same width as your double sided adhesive. Mesh the two together and you have instant washi to match any project!

I know the blog is slim these days but the summer is about to get even busier. Next week I'll be showing you Mini Challenge #3 then the final journal after that. By then we'll be in to June and a new challenge will have begun!

The ABC journal is nearly finished. I'll be showing that flip-through video on a Friday Freebie soon. Stay tuned!

How will you be creative on these Lazy Hazy Days of Summer?

Creative Blessings!

WOYWW #520

Good morning, friends.

WOW! I can't believe some of you have been doing this for 520 weeks! I feel so  blessed to have been welcomed into this circle. Thank you each and every one who take time to comment. You are loved!

Bit of a cool morning lingering after storms yesterday. Weather forecast says we'll heat up today and get sticky sticky - ahead of yet another round of storms. I have the windows open enjoying the fresh air while I can before I have to turn on the AC.

My desk isn't very exciting. I've had to pack electronics up and tuck them into my hidey hole in the basement ahead of severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings the past couple of nights.

The new Paper Pumpkin from Stampin' Up! waiting for some play time. That's first on my list this morning. At the top right you'll see a single red rose. Plucked that from my garden yesterday before the storms blew in. Just below that is my daily sheet from my workhorse planner, my pink personal that I'm now using again for Stampin' Up! as we don't have a new one in the catalog this time 'round. I'm okay with that. I bought this little Recollections when I started with SU two years ago just for this purpose. Like reuniting with a former co-worker. Bottom right corner you'll see a card I made on Monday from the Stampin' Up! Everything is Rosy medley. Man, that medley has some gorgeous play toys. If you've not seen this special edition, you'll find lots of pictures on my SU blog as well as our current journal project on my KellysCreativeStamping YouTube channel. 

Also, I'm still playing in Junk Journal challenges. If you want to see those pics, check out my Monday posts. Mixed Media Monday

A couple quick pictures.

Spirit decided to keep me company during some video time the other day. He can be such a snob most days and as a 7th generation panther, he does have his mean side but he's still my sweet boy regardless his mood.

Lastly, 

This is one of three Clematis I planted last year. This lavender hue is called Little Duckling. That is only about 1/3 of the blooms that have opened so far. 

Only ten days left before the grandgirls will be here. So much to do, including finishing up my ATCs for the swap. A design finally clicked with me so that's on my list for tomorrow. Must finish putting the new SU stuff in place first. I have 4 left so if you'd like to swap please let me know in the comments so I may add you to my list... as soon as I remember where I put it :-)

 That's it for my desk this week. Who's Miss Julia and why am I here?  When you are done visiting me in the Ozarks, please hop on over to Stamping Ground  for all the details. Miss Julia has a long list of other studios you can peek into. No standing on an up-turned milk pail to look in the window. We open the doors wide and welcome you.  Please leave your number and you'll be among the first on my list. 

Creative Blessings!

~Kelly

MIXED MEDIA MONDAY - #MMMJJC Mini #1

Good morning!

I haven't actually started on the journal yet. I'm hoping for some play time this week. I've been busy getting the studio re-organized and prepping for the 2019-2020 Stampin' Up! Catalog launch... just two weeks away!

Then there's the arrival of the grandgirls on June 1. So yeah, it's been a little crazy here. I have kept up with the mini challenges. We've done two so far. I'm going to show you #1 this week, #2 next week then the final challenge will run the first day the girls are here. That way I can schedule these posts and keep rolling here.

For each of the mini challenges so far, Julie has drawn five items from our list. Here's the selected items for the first mini challenge:

Guest Check
1/2" strip of paper
Square
Junk Mail image
Word
Yarn

I like being given parameters to work with. Though, you'll see by the picture I added a couple of things. Just thought a couple of elements were missing from my composition. Please leave a comment below telling me what I added that was not on the list.

Creative Blessings!

MIXED MEDIA MONDAY - The Art Bar

Last month I was invited to join a FB group called The Art Bar. I know the moderator, Denina, from the junk journal challenges I've been taking part in with dearjuliejulie. I've never been invited to join a group before so am looking forward to participating.

Denina offers up challenges, swaps and does live art participation groups on YouTube each week. The first swap I'm jumping in to gave me the opportunity to try Artist Trading Coins. Much like an Artist Trading Card but in the confines of a 2-1/2" circle. Do a search on Pinterest and be amazed by the creativity. There are even a few using Stampin' Up! products.

We had the option of staying within the US or swapping International. I chose the latter as the coins can't be that expensive to mail and lets me connect with people all over the world. My partner for this swap is from NSW Australia. Her coins go in the mail tomorrow morning.  Here's what I came up with:

If you saw  my post last Monday about the inspiration sticks I made for the May Mystery Mayhem Junk Journal Challenge, the colors may look familiar.  Once I'd finished painting the sticks, I used a piece of sponge to clean out each well and swipe the paint across Guest Checks. No wasting all those pretty paint colors! 

Once the Guest Checks had dried, I cut a 2-1/2" circle from each one as well as 4 coordinating circles from white cardstock for each one. I layered 4 of the white 'coins' together with glue then glued one of the Guest Check circles on top. 

The little envelopes were made from the SU Sealed With Love (Valentine retired set). The leaves were punched from scraps of the Autumn Harvest DSP using a Martha Stewart Pine Bough punch. The flowers were from my stash as were the little word slips tucked into each envelope.

I used Avery Labels to design the identifier label for the back. I hope to have that as a digital download in my Etsy shop opening soon!

These were my first. I really like how they turned out and will be making more. 

However you choose to be creative, remember.... this is what we do for FUN!

Creative Blessings!

WOYWW #518

Wednesday, already?  Seriously. Seems like I just posted and got round to a few of you last week and here it is again. Guess I best get crackin' on those ATCs this week. I'm up for trading with others as I always make mine in sets of 12.

So far I have 6 of them accounted for, so if you'd like to trade please let me know in your comment.

So today's desk shows lots of room to work:

There is a bit of cleaning/ sorting/ pitching that needs to happen. I'm digging into the office all day today as soon as the rain moves in. Want to try and get outside before that happens. The weather is cool and beautiful out there this morning. But first, tea and cookies.

That's it for my desk this week. Who's Miss Julia and why am I here?  When you are done visiting me in the Ozarks, please hop on over to Stamping Ground  for all the details. Miss Julia has a long list of other studios you can peek into. No standing on an up-turned milk pail to look in the window. We open the doors wide and welcome you.  Please leave your number and you'll be among the first on my list. 

Creative Blessings!

~Kelly

TEAPOT TUESDAY - 50th Anniversary

Today's teapotter card is off to a couple in New Hampshire celebrating 50 Fabulous years together.

My brain nor my hands want to work in tandem today so I went to Pinterest and found THIS card by Sandy Hancock at Udderly Awesome. Sandy cased hers from Cheryl W. So this version is getting a lot of miles amongst the Pinterest community.

Sandy and I both used Bloomin' Love and Number of years. I used Gold foil rather than the glitter cardstock. I chose the Country Floral 3D embossing folder for my mat. Anniversary is stamped with VersaMark then embossed with Stampendous Detail Gold embossing powder. I cut the banner twice, one from white cardstock and the other from the gold foil then just off-set them. I added a touch of color to the background using a dauber and Teresa Collins Gold Pigment. The foil strip is glued directly to the mat but then I popped up everything else with dimensionals.

The mat is then popped up from the Shimmer White card base with dimensionals.

Other than the WOYWW post tomorrow, I doubt there will be another post until next week. I HAVE to finish getting the office done so I need to step away from the crafting for a couple of days and just dive in. I can do a lot of things.. but just not all at once LOL

Creative Blessings!

MIXED MEDIA MONDAY!

Wow!

As usual, life has been a whirl wind the past three weeks. Bob's gone back to work and I'm diving deep into the studio to get it cleared out/ organized and ready for the grandgirls to have room to play.

In the mean time, I'm still trying to finish the ABC Junk Journal. So far I've deconstructed what the book was originally and am in the process of putting it back together in a new form while incorporating the things from Julie's ABC challenge list. The mini-challenge items I made have vanished from sight. I knew I should never have taken them out of the project bin so I could use it for something else. Ack!  At least I know they are in the office somewhere and will be found this week.

So many things going on I'll be sharing with you in the coming weeks, but for now let's talk about the

MAY MYSTERY MAYHEM JUNK JOUNAL CHALLENGE

yeah, say that three times fast LOL

First... the list:

Cover

Guest Check

Stamping

Use of fabric

Messy Thread

Flat paper clip

Bead dangle

Fancy closure (any type)

Handmade Washi

Tassel (any type)

Playing Card

Stenciling

Junk Mail

Fussy Cut image

Journal space (lined)

Layered Collage

Belly Band

Paper Ribbon ruffle

Top Tuck

Lace Pocket

Pull tab pocket

Paper flowers

Book paper pocket

Postage stamp

Metal

Reciept or ticket

Napkin or tissue

Doily

Signature ties dangle

Pair of pockets

Bling

The challenge theme is flowers and the Mystery Mayhem part comes in to play when we choose our item to work on each day. But how are they chosen is the question. 

Julie's idea is to print out the list, then cut them into strips and toss them into a bowl to be drawn... every day it is a mystery as to what we'll be working on.

But you know I can't do anything that simple. :-P  Have you ever played Pick Up Sticks?

While going through our card game cabinet I found a Stampin' UP! shell case that had popsicle sticks
for a rummy form of game called STICKS and the light bulb went on.

You know me and color. LOL

My first thought was that this would be an excellent way to keep the challenge items as a permanent inspiration item in the studio. We all have those moments when we want to do something but the idea just won't come. Or we look at a page and think 'it needs something'.

Pretty Colors!

The final product

I look forward to utilizing this new creative tool in the studio beyond the May Mystery Mayhem Challenge.

I should have a card tomorrow. I'm trying to get as much done as possible before we get the girls. I've already put 3 blogs on hiatus until September. I may even make the decision to drop two of them completely come the new year. Safe assured... THIS blog isn't going anywhere. You guys are my buds and I have too much fun sharing with you. 

Creative Blessings!

WOYWW #517

My desk as I left it last night around 10:30. I'm in the process of salvaging a journal I started almost 15 years ago when I taught an art journal class at Michaels. Sorry about the glare spot. I wasn't completely awake yet when I took this photo. I wanted to get linked up before I started my day.

Some pretty nasty storms rolled through the southwest portion of Missouri last night. Thankfully, we didn't get any of the high winds, tornadoes or the amount of rain those south and west of us received. They say we are in line for another round this afternoon. Keep those folks in mind, please.

I can not stress enough how important it is to have a plan in place for natural disasters. My husband sat at the dining room table last night while I prepared stuff to take to our protective corner of the basement. I hope he never has to experience an aftermath. My husband is a teddy bear at heart and doesn't like to think or plan for 'negative' things like disasters or death. While I do not dwell on negativity, I do know there are some things we can prepare for. 

On the news last night they kept talking about radar picking up debris. All I could think about was how far into the next county pieces of my office could be found in the event a tornado hit here.

So my question for you is:  Do you have a hard copy list of your studio contents somewhere safe? In the event you had to file an insurance claim, do you have something you can hand your insurance agent and know that everything you own would be replaced? Don't trust yourself to remember in the aftermath. You will be in shock and will not be able to make that list at the time. MAKE YOUR LIST NOW! Please. Be Safe... Be Prepared

Okay, commercial over. For a bit of happy, Bob and I spent 3 days in the city visiting new and favorite flea market/ thrift stores. At our usual favorite I found a steal! Angela has already seen but for the rest of you, if you're a Tim Holtz fan, you may want to check out MONDAY's post. 

That's it for my desk this week. Who's Miss Julia and why am I here?  When you are done visiting me in the Ozarks, please hop on over to Stamping Ground  for all the details. Miss Julia has a long list of other studios you can peek into. No standing on an up-turned milk pail to look in the window. We open the doors wide and welcome you.  Please leave your number and you'll be among the first on my list. 

Creative Blessings!

~Kelly